Compare And Contrast The Scottsboro Trial And To Kill A Mockingbird

During the 1930’s there was a case of white people against black boys in the town of Paint Rock, AL (Ransdall).” This case was known as The Scottsboro Trials. A novel written by Harper Lee titled To Kill a Mockingbird has a similar plot in which a black man, or Negro, was accused of raping a white woman (Lee). Both of these stories have similarities and parallels that are interesting to indulge in. The social characteristics, stigmas, and opinions if superiority influence the behaviors and decisions of those involved in both trials. The social traits in both plots lead to characters wrongly convicted and others misled by untrue stories that appeal to their biased ways of thinking.
Both of these plots take place at a time where racism was a …show more content…
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the community had, “the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings… (Lee 273).” The character in To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Scottsboro Trials, obviously looked past the fact that there was an obvious sketchiness to the testimony and evidence in the case. In Hollace Ransdall’s work she stated, “neither of the girls showed signs of any rough handling on their bodies, it made not an impression upon her (Ransdall)”. In, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus brings to attention, “The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place (Lee 271).” The insufficient amount of evidence didn’t change the minds of the character’s involved in the case because there was a lack judgement in the wat Negroes were treated. The extreme way in which the Scottsboro Boys were arrested is proof that the white folks had biased opinions that affected their actions. A posse of white men from Paint Rock, Alabama collected the Negroes from the scene. The Negroes were then tied together and taken to a jail (Linder, The Trials of “The Scottsboro Boys”). The actions were cruel to the Negroes and the language of white people as well. Mayella Ewell degraded Tom Robinson, the defendant in To Kill a Mockingbird, by saying, “come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me… (Lee 241).” She thought that talking down to the ‘niggers’ was justified. …show more content…
Both girls are built to work and because of the poor conditions they were in during the Depression of 1931 they worked a lot. Ruby Bates is described as, “a large, fresh, good-looking girl… (Ransdall)” Mayella Ewell has a similar body type to Bates, “she was, a thick-bodied girl accustomed to strenuous labor (Lee 239).” Even though most people worked in factories during the depression both families were outcasts of the town they lived in, but still had some respect. Ruby Bates’ family was called the “lowest of the low” but still had more respect than the Negroes (Ransdall). Ruby Bates wasn’t given much respect, however, she was treated better than the Negroes as long as she would live the ways of the citizens of Maycomb. Mayella and Ruby both lived in the similar conditions. “Maycomb’s Ewell’s lived behind the towns garbage dump in what once a Negro cabin (Lee 227).” Ruby also lived in a house that belonged to Negroes before she moved in. These two women didn’t grow up having much and showed gratitude for what they did have. Mrs. Bates and Mayella Ewell showed their appreciation for what they have by taking care of their belongings. When Hollace Ransdall reported to the Bates’ home, she described Mrs. Bates as, “clean and neat in a cheap cotton dress… (Ransdall).” Mrs. Bates owned so little, but she took proper care of what she did own and was humble when anyone would